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StumbleSmoking ban for Atlantic City casinos delayed; Nevada casino goes smoke-free
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008 | 6:31 p.m.
Beyond the Sun
Arguing that a smoking ban would further hurt earnings that have slumped in the downward economy, Atlantic City casinos successfully lobbied Atlantic City's city council to delay a complete smoking ban that would have taken effect Oct. 15.
The council today voted 5-4 in favor of delaying the ban. An ordinance delaying the ban faces a second reading Oct. 22, though a final decision might be extended. If approved, the delay could last up to a year -- or at least until the economy begins to rebound.
Atlantic City casinos have been operating under a partial ban that allows smoking on up to 25 percent of their casino floors. Casinos were initially exempted from state legislation in 2006 that banned smoking in public workplaces.
The delay angered casino workers and advocates who attended the meeting this evening.
"This isn't about the economy. The casinos are using that as an excuse for their own corporate greed," said Karen Blumenfeld, executive director of New Jersey GASP, an anti-smoking advocacy group that lobbied for the ban.
After the council approved a complete smoking ban in April, several Atlantic City casinos began constructing enclosed smoking lounges, which are allowed under the ban.
The casino industry says that smoking bans cost them millions of dollars in lost revenue as customers seek smoker-friendly casinos in other states.
Meanwhile, anti-smoking advocates are going state by state, seeking bans they say will level the playing field.
Also today, Nevada regulators gave preliminary approval to license what could become the state's first new casino to ban smoking.
It's a small casino in Fernley, population 19,700. Fernley, 30 minutes from Reno, has the distinction of being one of the state's fastest growing cities and is home to an Amazon.com fulfillment center, among other warehouse employers.
The Fernley Nugget will open Nov. 1 with 120 slot machines, a diner and an outdoor patio for smokers.
The decision to operate a smoke-free casino was done on principle, owner and general manager David Scott Tate told the Gaming Control Board today.
Tate acknowledged that the ban might put his property at a competitive disadvantage but said he wouldn't remove the smoking ban if revenue takes a hit. Tate has operated small casinos in Nevada for more than a decade.
The property has received more than 100 applications from employees who are excited about working at a smoke-free property, while only one applicant was unhappy about the ban, Tate said.
A handful of Nevada casinos have attempted to ban smoking as a marketing ploy to boost flagging performance. Those bans generally didn't help business, though several casinos now offer either nonsmoking games or areas.
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The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
At least the Vegas casinos can make their own choice.
Stephanie Steinberg, chairwoman of Smoke Free Gaming of Colorado, said that in her state, where casino workers aren't unionized, getting smoking banned required unusual tactics.
She and fellow campaigners played at blackjack tables to strike up conversations with dealers and waitresses about secondhand smoke. Soon, her group had persuaded dozens of employees to show up at off-site locations that stayed open until 4 a.m. so they could be tested for nicotine levels in their urine. Steinberg's group also walked through casinos with personal air-monitoring devices used by asthmatics to measure air quality. They eventually persuaded legislators to extend Colorado's clean-air act, already enforced in restaurants and other public places, to casinos.
But Connecticut casinos and others may soon be facing challenges. Ms. Steinberg is taking her fight from Colorado to Nevada. Other smoking-ban efforts are under way in Iowa and Missouri. Pennsylvania casinos instituted a closely watched partial smoking ban last week. Casinos in these states are expected to
vigorously oppose full smoking bans.
Yeah, I really like how other people are trying to tell business men how to run their property, their business.
For crying out loud, this is why smokers fight bans, because non smokers want a war of totality. They won't be happy until no one can smoke in public at all. Land of the free indeed.
Next they'll try to ban cigarettes outright. Just wait for it.
redferret, how is it that you and i can actually agree on something. I am getting tiny little heart attacks.
I do not think it is that easy.
There will be casino workers that will and have die of earlier deaths because of all that second hand smoke.
On the other hand, a smoking ban will put a lot of people out of work.
I think second hand smoke is digusting to people that do not smoke, and to make employees work in such an environment is nothing more than corporate GREED.
smokers only make up 25% of the population yet their needs outweigh the needs of the majority. Its a good job that casinos cater for the majority of the population in their casinos NOT!.The craving for nicotine causes smokers to not give a damn about anyone else and cry freedom of choice. These are very sad individuals that I pity.
This isnt about banning smokers on the casino floor. All we non smokers want is a small non smoking area of the casino that we can gamble in. It will not cost the casino's much and will give them information on how this area is used. If it is heavily used then this will be very good data for their business plans. At the moment refusing to do this without solid data is weak management. All the casino bosses are worried that if their revenue goes down they would lose their jobs so the status quo prevails.
I like your idea, but my problem is that most smokers are not like you. As I said before, most non-smokers want a war of totality. They get that inch, and instead of working for a 50/50 compromise they want the whole yard. I'm for non-smoking sections. I'm for non-smoking in restaurants, but others want to ban it everywhere. Some places even banned smoking outside. That kind of mentality is the problem, the nanny-state/you can't make decisions for yourself type of thinking.
Now all of you non smoking advocates, just remember when smoking is eliminated, YOUR taxes are going to go up as we smokers pay a hefty price to indulge in our habit. And, when I find a casino in another state that allows smoking, your taxes can rise again as the casino tax will be elsewhere. Careful what you wish for.
Besides, a smoking ban reduces gambling. First and foremost the foreign market will dry up. You think those Asians and Europeans will come to a smoke-free Vegas. Doesn't China/Japan have something like a 50% adult smoking rate? Same for Europe.
Also gambling isn't like drinking, you can't just put it outside on a patio. So straight gambling revenues no matter what will drop aside from smokers leaving due to their disgust.
Seriously what's wrong with you people. This is a recession and you want to slit gambling's throat. If it was cost-effective, it would have been done.
How about this:
All casinos, restaurants, and bars be required to post a sign at the front door. It will clearly state if smoking is allowed inside or not. The public can then vote with their feet. What could be more fair?
Also, nobody is forced to work in the smoky places. Anyone who wishes can get another job. There are lots of outdoor jobs in Vegas, and I am sure plenty of outside workers would love to move inside.
Lung cancer or corporate profits? Hmm.
Bronchitis or corporate profits? Hmm.
Emphysema or corporate profits? Hmm.
Heart disease or corporate profits? Hmm.
Smoking in casinos should be banned entirely! Oh yeah, we already have a law that forbids smoking indoors-- it's just that the large impersonal corporate casinos just don't want to follow the law if it impacts their bottom line. Smokers suck!
Hotels and office buildings often go No-Smoking for purely financial reasons and casinos often maintain Smoking Allowed policies for the same financial reasons. As with many things, perceptions are not necessarily as factually supported as thought and immediate financial impacts outweigh deferred financial impacts or financial impacts related to health which will be borne by others. Many smokers feel that gambling halls are places that should allow smoking. Quite a few gamblers enjoy a smoke free environment but the casino focuses on keeping the smokers happy since they already have the non-smokers as customers and know they won't lose them.
Non-smoking casinos are not enough; one day, hopefully, cigarettes themselves will be illegal.
The problem with smoking/non-smoking areas in casinos is the casinos' lack of design. Setting up a non-smoking area requires more than just placing signs...physical partitions, separate ventilation systems make it work. Foxwoods casino is a good example of that.
Having said that, and being a smoker myself, the REAL issue here is that non-smokers will not stop until they get a TOTAL ban. The issue of CHOICE has no place in their society. Several restaurants in my hometown in PA. decided a few years ago to go smoke-free. This year the state instituted a smoking ban in restaurants. The owners of those restaurants were interviewed afterwards and said they were happy to now have a "level playing field" and that they hoped business would now pick up. Choice obviously takes a back seat to the bottom line. These places KNOW that smokers stay longer, spend more and gamble more, and they don't want to lose that business, so they are doing what they can to harm the bottom line of those that CHOOSE to allow smoking.
I personally vote with my wallet. I no longer stay in hotels that do not supply smoking rooms. I dine out only when I have to for business purposes, and only play in casinos that believe in choice. Imagine the impact if ALL the "only 25 percent" did the same...the non-smokers would have their "cleaner air"...and less than half as many choices to enjoy it because of all the "going out of business" signs.
Here's a real (not-so)novel idea for all the workers who are bothered by the smoke in the casino - GET A DIFFERENT JOB! Geesh - does it take rocket science to figure that one out? The owners of the casino's should have the FREEDOM (we still do that here don't we) to run their business as they see fit - as long as the substance is legal - and yes, tobacco is legal. I personally don't smoke and to tell the truth I HATE the smell of beer but I put up with it when I have to because that too is a LEGAL substance - all these cry-baby workers need to get a new job or quit belly-aching over it - after all jobs are getting harder to come by these days so they should spend more time being grateful that they have one - many people would probably line up for their job so if the smoke is so bothersome just quit - you will be replaced before the doors slams shut.
Northsider - no one is being forced or "made" to work in a smoky casino - it's their choice
As for banning cigarettes that is the DUMBEST idea I've heard in awhile. Have you been polishing your jackboots?
Let's see what does a ban mean... oh PROHIBITION. We all know how great prohibition worked. Oh, drinking didn't really go down, it made honest people into criminals, and killed certain industries. Smooth. Not to mention that it gave organized crime a cornered market.
Banning cigarettes will just explode the black market, strengthen organize crime, and in all make this world a worse place. Not to mention it would kill the sizeable tobacco industry, and all of its attendant parts. Smooth idea thought police what next alcohol, salt, red meat?
Azsk8fan: Choice pays bills ,but when health problems start to arise then we have an issue . In my state of Illinois we have no smoking everywhere its kind of nice . We can live much longer then the people of the city of Las Vegas .
The casino's should have smoke free gaming areas, but when you have free liquor you have trailer trash.I am sure we will be talking soon Guaranteed.
Todd
Ihear the moon is smoke free
take a hike
Northsider stay in Illinois
if you can't stand our smoke filled gaming areas,
and trailer trash.
Northsider - many casino's DO have smoke-free areas - the bottom line is that anyone who runs a business should be able to make their own decisions as to what they will and will not allow - again, as long as it's legal. Since cigarettes ARE a legal substance the owner of the business should have the right to decide for themselves - it should not be the government infringing on the business owners' freedoms. As for the employees - well they CHOOSE to work there because they can make some good money in tiops - again - it's a CHOICE - if they were truly concerned about their health then all the money in the world wouldn't matter when it came to working in a smoky casino. Can't have it both ways, ya know - when the government starts to butt in to this extent we start to stop being a democracy - slowly but surely.
What is this "choice" thing all about? Because it's your choice to smoke, why do I have to move to get away from you? You're the one with the bad habit.
Non-smoking casinos can work out just fine -- look at Canada. The air is clean in their casinos and the money (after the first few months) is just the same. Smokers can learn to control their craving for a while. Yeah, I'll watch your machine while you go out for a smoke. It's not that big a deal. Get over your selfish cravings, and let the rest of us breathe.
"look at Canada"
looking is not the same as experiencing. Canada's gaming is subpar to Vegas. that's just a fact. the numbers don't lie and the numbers are good for vegas because of the libertarian freedom Nevada allows the private sector. you take those liberties away and you take Vegas away. its that simple.
This is for Northside and anyone else who feels it's okay to discriminate against Smokers. If you go so far as to limit smokers, why haven't you and your like, limited "fat" people. Nobody is telling them they must eat off of a "lite" menu in a restaurant. You people want total control, so when will you start picking on Fat People? Let's see, They have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, they even raise fat kids. They have more heart problems due to their fatness,and they are a major drain on the health facilities in our country. Are they next? You're saying this is not the same thing and that I'm being ridiculous. Well all you greater than thou out there, think about it. You start dictating that smokers should not have a choice because if you have a couple of drinks in a casino, your trailer trash? You're just part of the problem. Limit smokers? Who's next on your goody-two shoes "get rid of list" ??????
Todd Phillips = fascist.
Why don't we ban the G.D sun while we're at it?
Northsider,
Segregation occured because southern governments steped in to stop corporate greed.
Careful what you wish for.
I got my e-cigs a couple days ago. They are great. I can "smoke" anywhere and everywhere. Plus all the money I am saving and I feel so much better. There is also no odor so all the people I work with dont complain in our non-smoking breakroom. My wife doesnt even complain when I use it in the house.
http://www.blucigs.com/index.php?ref=258...